By Doh James Sonkey
The Director General of Orange Cameroun, Patrick Benon says the telephony company is relying on government and its numerous clients support to make the next 25 years memorable. He was speaking last March 6, 2025 at the Yaounde Hilton Hotel during the silver jubilee celebration of Orange Cameroun placed under the patronage of the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications, Minette Libom Li Likeng.
Speaking at the occasion in the presence of the Minister of Labour and Social Security, Gregoire Owona, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Prof Wilfred Gabsa among others, the Director General of Orange Cameroun, Patrick Benon revealed that, “for the past 25 years, Orange Cameroun has invested about FCFA 1300 billion in the country.” He said Orange Cameroon is celebrating 25 years of commitment to a more supportive and connected society. “Our company is solemnly taking the commitment to accompany sustainable development in Cameroon. Orange Cameroun is proud to have been one of the key players in the digital transformation of Cameroon”, the DG told.
Addressing participants at the occasion, Minister Minette Libom Li Likeng said, “After 25 years, there are a lot of achievements. Orange Cameroun has improved a lot of things according to the evolution of the technology. They have done more than only connecting people. They have been involved in the development of our country through some activities about education, health etc. And as with our era, where Cameroon is really engaged to the digital transformation of our country, Cameroonians are more and more connected and they need good quality of service.”
The Posts and Telecommunications boss added that, “That’s why we ask Orange at this level, after 25 years, to do more. To improve this quality of service and to work hand in hand with the government because we cannot develop digital economy just by the public sector. We need to cooperate, collaborate with the private sector. There are a lot of challenges and we need to solve them together. While congratulating Orange Cameroun for the work done in 25 years, we ask them to improve, to do better so that together we can really achieve the goals to have a digital Cameroon as wished by our Head of State, H.E Paul Biya”, the Minister said.
Some 25 first clients of the Orange network were celebrated at the occasion and the event was concluded by the symbolic cutting of the anniversary cake by Minister Minette Libom Li Likeng.
Press Conference
Enlightening the press earlier on the socioeconomic footprint of Orange Cameroun, were the Director of Marketing and Communication at Orange Cameroun, Yves Kom, the Director of Institutional Affairs and Social Responsibility of Enterprise at Orange Cameroun, Alain Blaise Batongue and the Director of Operations, François Xavier Bella.
They discussed about Orange Cameroun’s contribution in the following areas; health, solidarity, environment, digitalisation, education etc.
Yves Kom explained that Orange Cameroun is celebrating 25 years and is presenting the new slogan which is, Orange is here because the company has come to stay.
The Director of Marketing and Communication at Orange Cameroun explained that, “We have 6.5 million data users, five and the half million Orange Money users. Orange Cameroun expressed gratitude to all its clients for being with them for the past 25 years. More than 4 million Cameroonian are present on Maxi, we are innovating to better serve our clients. Orange Cameroun has been officially sponsoring Cameroon Football for 23 uninterrupted years. We will be celebrating with each of our customer. We are celebrating this silver jubilee with young Cameroonians who were born the same day Orange Cameroun was created that is, January 25, 2000.”
Francois Xavier Bella explained that “Orange Cameroun has implanted in 31.000 localities in the country.”
The Director of Operations said “the priority of Orange Cameroun now is to stabilise existing network for calls and data. Orange Cameroon network coverage is now at 91%, 14 million subscribers, 75 million calls are made every day within our network. We have 1 data centre in Douala and another one under construction in Yaounde will soon be delivered. We are totally modernising our network in the country. Orange Cameroun has social commitment, so we bring solar energy in an environment that is friendly to humanity and to attain our ecological commitment.”
talking to the pres
Alain Blaise Batongue on his part said “Orange Cameroun above telecoms services, is a social company. We have been working for 25 years in communities, while taking into consideration socially vulnerable persons. Orange Foundation is giving back to the communities. Orange Cameroun is at the service of the inclusion of persons and communities and did not come to Cameroon for an adventure but came to jointly construct the country with Cameroonians. Orange Complex at Makepe in Douala constructed on a surface area of 12.880m2 is an example of what I am saying. Orange Cameroun has invested heavily, mobilised some 20 small and medium size enterprises and employed at least 500 Cameroonians”, he concluded.
The Secretary General of Orange Foundation, Elizabeth Eyabe declared that “Linguistic inclusion at Orange Cameroun is 100%. Orange Cameroun gives equal opportunities to francophones and anglophones.”